UN / MIDDLE EAST

Preview Language: Original

22-Aug-2017
00:01:55

A United Nations political affairs official called on Palestinian leaders to address the “destructive consequences” of Palestinian divisions, and to reach an agreement allowing “the legitimate Palestinian authorities to take up their responsibilities in Gaza as a step towards the formation of a united democratically elected Palestinian government on the basis of the PLO principles.” UNIFEED

2. Wide shot, Council
3. Med shot, delegates
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Miroslav Jenča, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs:
“I called on Palestinian leaders to address the destructive consequences of the divisions. I encourage them to reach agreement that would allow the legitimate Palestinian authorities to take up their responsibilities in Gaza as a step towards the formation of a united democratically elected Palestinian government on the basis of the PLO principles.”
5. Med shot, delegates
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Miroslav Jenča, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs:
“Hamas must also ensure that calm is maintained by stopping militant build-up against Israel and by doing its utmost to sustain security at the border with Egypt. Israel should step up measures to lift the closures and facilitate development in Gaza as overall calm persists in the Strip, in line with Security Council resolution 1860.”
7. Med shot, delegates
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Miroslav Jenča, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs:
“On 3 August, the Israeli Prime Minister delivered an inauguration speech at the launch of the construction of 1,000 new housing in the Beitar Illit settlement. In the speech, he praised the achievements of his government to promoting settlements. Such actions only fuel perceptions that those working to obstruct the two-state solution are gaining the upper hand. I must reiterate that settlements are illegal under international law and an obstacle to peace.”
9. Med shot, delegates
10. Wide shot, end of meeting

STORYLINE:

A United Nations political affairs official today (22 Aug) called on Palestinian leaders to address the “destructive consequences” of Palestinian divisions, and to reach an agreement allowing “the legitimate Palestinian authorities to take up their responsibilities in Gaza as a step towards the formation of a united democratically elected Palestinian government on the basis of the PLO principles.”

In his address to the Security Council, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Miroslav Jenča, said “Hamas must also ensure that calm is maintained by stopping militant build-up against Israel and by doing its utmost to sustain security at the border with Egypt.”

Israel, he said, “should step up measures to lift the closures and facilitate development in Gaza as overall calm persists in the Strip, in line with Security Council resolution 1860.”

Jenča told the Council that on 3 August, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered an inauguration speech at the launch of the construction of 1,000 new housing in the Beitar Illit settlement.

In the speech, he said, Netanyahu “praised the achievements of his government to promoting settlements.”

Such actions, Jenča said “only fuel perceptions that those working to obstruct the two-state solution are gaining the upper hand. I must reiterate that settlements are illegal under international law and an obstacle to peace.”